Mrs. Gloria Harper McDaniel, age 85 of Mt. Juliet passed away peacefully on March 25, 2023 surrounded by her family at her home – just a mile from the house she was born in.
Born May 31, 1937 in Mt. Juliet, she was the daughter of the late Rufus Calhoun Harper and Maude McDonald Harper.
She was a 1954 graduate of Lebanon High School. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Gloria spent time as a stay-at-home mother actively involved in her children’s school, the Mt. Juliet Little League park where her son played baseball and her husband coached, supporting her daughters’ musical interests by taking them to piano and vocal lessons, and being a Sunday school teacher and leader at her church.
She was a talented seamstress who often made dresses for her daughters and worked professionally at times. She worked at Southern Woodenware in Nashville in the 1950s and again in the 1970s after they relocated to Mt. Juliet. She also worked at the Wilson County Trustee’s office for many years until her retirement.
After her retirement, Gloria, along with her husband, spent 18 of the most selfless and rewarding years of her life as the primary caregiver to her disabled granddaughter, Kristi, who filled her heart with so much joy.
Gloria was preceded in death by three sisters: Eva Mae Edmondson, Hazel Gray, and Victoria Harper; two brothers: Rufus C. Harper, Jr., and James Harper; son-in-law Michael Wayne Erwin.
She is survived by her husband of sixty-six years, Raymond McDaniel; her children: Karen Erwin, Larry McDaniel, and Diane (Bryan) McFarland; six grandchildren: Doug McDaniel, Kristi McDaniel, Shelby (Jeremy) Lee, Ashlee McDaniel (Russ Garlow), Lindsey Erwin, Meagan McFarland; great-grandchildren: Macy (Tyler) Lee Stancill, Madelyn & Makenna Lee, Layla McDaniel and Lincoln Stucki, Jay, Aayla, and Ronin Garlow; and great-great-grandchildren: Charly & Ella Stancill.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 12:00 pm at Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home with Bro. Rich Tiner officiating. Interment: LaGuardo Cemetery Visitation Tuesday 3-7 p.m. and Wednesday 10 a.m. until service time.
Pallbearers: Jeremy Lee, Melvin Harper, Scott Harper, Jonathan Gray, Chris Harper, Ron Spry
Honorary pallbearers: Doug McDaniel, William Harper, Matt Melvin, Brian Gray and Randy Jenkins.
LIGON & BOBO FUNERAL HOME, in charge of arrangements. https://ligonbobo.com
For more obituaries visit https://wilsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
